John Adams Signs the Sedition Act

On July 14, 1798, President John Adams signed the Sedition Act, making it a federal crime to print false or malicious criticism of the government. America was fighting an undeclared naval war with France, and the fear of foreign influence had turned inward, toward newspaper editors. But the law carried two strange details: it shielded the president and Congress while leaving Vice President Thomas Jefferson exposed, and it was written to expire the day before a new administration could take office. Send me a text!Support the show